Entering our 18th century studies, I perused a highly recommended high school history book on the last half of the 18th century, that I had purchased last summer, since it was recommended by the doomsday homeschool history curriculum that I continually find myself rewriting.
This very expensive book with no previews available, but only available on-line caused me to waver in purchasing sight unseen.
Finally, I bought the book, The Revolutionary Period: 1750-1783.
After previewing the topics, I read the introduction, where the editor claimed that the colonists in 1750 America preferred the simple life, with no interest in music or theater.
EDITOR’S INCORRECT ANALYSIS OF 1750 AMERICA
Instead, they preferred bare necessities, refused to dress up, and preferred “to live in small one-room homes, and own only what was necessary for the functioning of the household.”
In brief, he stated that “Culture…was considered frivolous,” and that music was only for church.
By 1783, American had finally become cultural, enjoying concert, theater, art and literature and homes were finally larger, with many rooms and multiple possessions.
WHAT???
I’ve visited many pre-1750 homes, in the cities of Boston, Philadelphia, and Virginia) which had multiple rooms with multiple lavish furnishings.
1725 VIRGINIA MANSION
The grandest of homes in Virginia was a mansion built in 1725 in Gloucester named Rosewell Plantation, that rivaled the grandiose Governor’s Palace in nearby Williamsburg.
1740’S VIRGINIA DANCE EDUCATION
With music and dancing intertwined, George Washington learned to dance, most likely as a teenager at his older brother’s estate of Mount Vernon, by which he had excelled by age 19, in 1951.
Upon my many visits to Colonial Williamsburg, principally set in 1774, I’m regaled with stories and evidence of colorful attire, dancing, music, and theater throughout the 18th century.
1730’S VIRGINIA HOME LIBRARY
When this grand house in Colonial Williamsburg was bequeathed to Peyton Randolph by his father in 1737, which he fully took on when he came of age eight years later.
In his will, Sir John Randolph left his son, Peyton, his “whole collection of books with the cases in which they are kept.”18 These book cases must have taken up a substantial amount of space, and the possibility that a room was given over as a library cannot be ruled out. However, it has been suggested that it is very unusual to see the use of book presses this early in the century and even more rare to find rooms set aside as libraries.19 often books were stored in closets or trunks and were found in many rooms, including passages. William Byrd did have a library at Westover, but this seems quite unusual for the times. It appears most likely, then, that although the presses indicate an unusual level of sophistication in furnishing, they were probably distributed throughout the house.
I think the house is furnished according to the inventories of 1775, the year Peyton Randolph passed away.
1716 VIRGINIA THEATER
As far as theater goes…I’m certain I saw a sign of pre-1750 theater in Colonial Williamsburg.
In fact, I’m going to be there in a few days…stay tuned.
DEEMED UNHELPFUL FOR OUR HOMESCHOOL STUDIES
On top of that, the articles within this book do not adequately help grow my kids’ understanding of the American Revolution or the Constitution, themes we’re majoring in because that is the cornerstone to understanding our country.
Although they are interesting side articles, who’s to know how correct they are if the introduction is full or errors.
Since my kids are swamped with rhetoric studies, we don’t have time for this book.
EPILOGUE
I went. I learned. I blogged. Read all about what I learned from one of the Colonial Williamsburg actors about 18th century theater, here.
